Weather across the nation: 1/12/13

A strong winter storm brought snow to the Dakotas and Upper Midwest, while an associated cold front created heavy rains across the Eastern Valleys on Saturday.

A low pressure system moved from the Northern Plains and into the Great Lakes throughout the day. Flow around this system created a cold front that extended southward and created a broad area of rain showers from the Central and Southern Plains over the Mississippi River Valley and into the Tennessee Valley.

Flood watches and warnings have been issued in these areas as rainfall totals have surpassed 2 inches in many areas. Heaviest rainfall was reported in Greenwood, Miss., with a midday total of 2.63 inches of rain.

To the north, the back side of the center of the low pressure system allowed for snow showers to move through the Dakotas and Minnesota with snowfall totals reached up to 4 inches in some areas on Saturday. Windy conditions developed over the region with gusts from 30 to 45 mph.

Walhalla, N. D., reported the strongest wind gust up to 52 mph. As this system swept eastward through the center of the nation, temperatures dropped significantly behind the cold front. High temperatures only reached into the single digits and teens for the parts of the Rockies and Northern Plains.

Ahead of this system, high temperatures remained 15 to 25 degrees above seasonable with highs near 50 in New York City and Washington D.C., while the Southeast ranged in the 70s to mid-80s.

Farther West, cold conditions continued for the West and Southwest as cold air from the north poured over the West Coast. Daytime high temperatures ranged in the 40s, while overnight low dropped into the 20s across interior locations.

ON THIS DATE....... The "Schoolhouse Blizzard of 1888" struck the Midwest on this date. The area from the Dakotas to Texas was enjoying warm, spring-like weather before the storm moved into the region. Many children were forced to stay in one room schoolhouses (hence the name of the storm). When all was said and done, the storm killed over 200 people.